Janet Louise (Barger) Nowinski

GRAY – Janet Louise (Barger) Nowinski, 82, passed away peacefully at home on the lake surrounded by loved ones on Sept. 1, 2025 after a long illness. Jan/Mom/Gramma/Great-Gramma was born on Sept. 10, 1942 in Detroit, Mich., the daughter of John and Margot Barger.

Jan grew up in Oak Park, Mich. and graduated from Ferndale High School in 1960. She studied dental hygiene at the University of Detroit, and also took lessons to be a bank bookkeeper. It was during this time that she met Larry Nowinski, Dad/Grampa/Great-Grampa, and they were married in June 1963. In 2025 they had been married 62 years. It was also during this time when Mom met Fr. Joseph Lectenberg, SJ who helped her become a Catholic and who later performed the marriage ceremony for Larry and Jan at a church in Chicago, Ill. Her trust in God and deep Catholic faith blossomed and continued to grow throughout her lifetime.

Jan was no stranger to difficult times. She endured the death of her father at the age of 16 and another loss of a dear friend at the age of 18. In 1971 she experienced the heartbreaking loss of a newborn baby, whom she never got to meet. She mothered children who had life-threatening conditions or birth defects. Jan and Larry lived in several places around the country and raised seven children. Jan’s strength, courage, and strong faith were mainstays to her amazing character.

Jan’s deep faith called her to fellowship in the Catholic community. She was a lector, CCD/confirmation teacher, parish council member and active member of the Opus Dei community for many years. Her volunteer service also included being a founder and lead bookkeeper for the Summer Winds camp, where girls and young women had religious instruction alongside a beautiful Maine summer camp experience. She also led a girls’ service club for many years called the Red Robins where religious instruction was followed by singing to residents of a nursing home. Jan’s volunteer involvement was at its pinnacle with her participation in the Gray Community Food Pantry. She, together with a small group of highly dedicated volunteers, moved the Pantry from the Gray Town Hall to the parish house of the Congregational Church of Gray. With Jan as Financial Secretary, checking in those who came to the Food Pantry, the organization has helped hundreds and hundreds of families with food, personal care items, and household needs. The organization’s demonstration of service and stewardship to fellow human beings is a beautiful illustration of what God put Jan here on earth to do. Jan loved God, loved her family, enjoyed animals, and adored babies.

She lived many years on her beloved lake and enjoyed boat rides, watching the wildlife, and watching several generations grow up. Our hearts are beyond heavy with her passing.

Jan was predeceased by her mother, Margot, her father, John, her stepdad, Arthur; her sister, Marilyn; her son, Baby Sean; and her grandson, Nicholas.

She is survived by her husband, Lawrence of 62 years; her brother, Roland and his wife Barb and family; stepbrother, Michael; and her children and their families, John and his wife Kim, Larry and his wife Suzanne, Chris and his wife Jamie, Laura and her husband Neal, Charlotte and her husband Andrew, Michelle and her husband Steve, Shawna; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Ave., Portland on Monday Sept. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday Sept. 9 at Holy Martyrs Catholic Church, 266 Foreside Rd. in Falmouth. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Stevens Avenue, Portland.

To share memories of Janet or to leave the family an online condolence, please visit http://www.athutchins.com

In lieu of flowers,

the family asks that

donations be made to the

Gray Community

Food Pantry

c/o Alice McGrath

P.O. Box 1012

Gray, ME 04039